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Misery

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Chapter 9: Misery (Jules's POV)

"You what?" 

I stared back at Audrey but I couldn't hold her gaze and let out a soft sigh, dropping my head onto the table between us. 

"You didn't tell your parents that you broke off the engagement?" 

My response was a muffled, "No." 

"They think you're still engaged to my brother?" she asked, her voice going a little higher, a little louder. 

"Yes," I answered without lifting my head. 

"And now you... Now everybody's expecting you to bring him to Alex's wedding?" 

"Yup," I said, lifting my head up and throwing my ponytail over my shoulder. 

Audrey laughed humorlessly and leaned back in her seat, throwing her hands up before letting them fall onto the table so hard that the salt and pepper shakers toppled over but I caught them before they rolled off and glanced up at her sheepishly. "Jules," she said. "What the hell were you thinking? I mean, seriously. It's been a year, I don't understand how you managed to keep this from them." 

"I... lied!" I huffed before groaning and turning to stare out the window. 

"About everything? How did you explain moving into this apartment?" 

"I said I wanted to move because I got a job at The Bookmark and I took it because it was a good opportunity to do something on my own, away from Christian. I told them some bullshit about how it wouldn't look good if I kept working for my fiancé, so I was taking a different job, and that this new apartment was much closer to my new office." 

"And they believed it?" 

"Why wouldn't they?" My gaze narrowed on her. 

"Because The Bookmark pays you much less than Lukov Empires and Estates did. That has nothing to do with my brother and everything to do with the fact that the company you were previously working at was much better." 

"Shall we just disregard the fact that your brother and my ex-fiancé was also my damn boss at that company?" I asked, lifting my eyebrows in question. "I couldn't keep working for him after we broke up." 

"I understand that but lying to your parents?" 

"It's not like I enjoyed doing that," I mumbled, picking at my cuticles. "I just wasn't ready to tell them, I hadn't even come to terms with what happened. You know how my family is, they jump at the first taste of drama." 

"That's true. The Declans have a flare for the dramatics indeed," she shrugged, biting down a smile. 

"If they found out, their questions would never end. More importantly, if they found out why it happened, everything would be ruined." 

She nodded softly, "All right. I see where you're coming from and I understand. What's done is done. So... what are you going to do now?" 

I stared at her blankly. "If I knew the answer to that question, I wouldn't have called you to breakfast here an hour before I have to be at work." 

"Yeah, we've woken up incredibly early for this," she sighed and then straightened up, taking another sip of her coffee. Scratching her temple, she glanced out the glass window we sat behind and stared at the ongoing traffic while humming in thought for a moment. 

A year ago when I told this lie, I didn't realize it would come back to bite me, especially like this. "What's the worst that could happen if I showed up without a date?" I questioned, shrugging a single shoulder. 

"Oh no, you can't do that. Not unless you're prepared to completely embarrass yourself in front of your entire family and I mean aunts, uncles, cousins, and everything. Oh, and your ex-boyfriend." 

"Oh, God," I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. 

"He is invited to the wedding, isn't he?" 

"Why wouldn't he be, he's Alex's best friend," I mumbled out. The way Audrey was watching me with amusement was only annoying me. "What?" I huffed out. 

"You have incredible taste. How do you always end up with guys that are either your brother's best friend or the man he hates?" 

I laughed dryly before glaring at her. "Today's bill is on you." Glancing at my phone to check the time, I stood up, taking my cup of coffee with me. "I have to get to work." 

"With Natalie or Christian?" This was hilarious to her and the amusement she had was written all over her face. This was pure entertainment for her. 

"What does it matter? They're both as evil as satan." 

She laughed as I walked past her, waving goodbye. 

The walk from Café Havana to the Lukov Empires building wasn't any longer than five minutes, so I made it there just in time, only when I got there in front of the elevator, did I see the devil himself standing right there in his Tom Ford suit. Instinctively, my footsteps slowed down and I began stalling, hoping he would get in the elevator before I could reach him. Warily, I continued walking but stopped behind him, facing the other elevator so we stood back to back. 

"Hiding, Red?" His voice tickled my ear as I felt him behind me now, his chest brushing against my back. 

I closed my eyes and took in a breath as he let out a wicked, dry chuckle and moved to stand beside me instead. "I could swear you didn't hear me walking over here." 

"No. But I don't need to hear you to know when you're in a room." 

Resisting an eye roll, I turned to face him and found him already staring at me with his hands tucked comfortably into his pockets. "How cute," I said sarcastically. 

"Oh, I know I am," he smirked back at me as the elevator in front of us opened up with a faint ding. 

We stepped in, both of us refusing to back down and get on a different elevator. Silently, I prayed that someone else would join us so we could avoid the awkward silence but fate had other plans in mind, and with nobody else getting on, it was just us. 

"And then there were two?" he asked. 

I bit my tongue, not uttering another word to him. Instead, I changed the subject. "What work do I have to do today?" 

"First, you have some calls to make, some agents to talk to about purchasing the buildings. If none of those work out, find some more locations up for sale. The last thing you'll do today is check out the buildings still left from yesterday and you get the honor to do that with me." 

"Don't flatter yourself, Lukov." 

"How could I not when you tell me lovely things like this, Red?" He stared down at me, biting down a sinful smile. 

I held his gaze, feeling nothing but despise for the man who stood before me. "I hate you," I spat out, regardless of how childish it sounded. 

"So you say," he replied, facing ahead as the doors opened, announcing that we had reached the top floor. 

"I say it and I mean it," I continued as we walked down the hall, both of us heading to our own offices. 

"Do you now, Ms. Declan?" he inquired. 

"I most certainly do. You are the bane of my existence and the source of my misery. Of all my miseries. They all bring me back to you, Christian Lukov," I finished as I reached my office and stopped at the door while he stopped at his own door and turned to look at me, both of us standing facing each other with hard gazes and clenched jaws. 

Without waiting for a response, I entered my office and sat down, dropping my purse onto the desk with more force than necessary. Out of frustration, I propped my elbows on the table and held my head in my hands, breathing harshly and trying to gain just a little composure. 

Why is everything going wrong and happening at the same fucking time? 

I had no choice, nothing happening was in my control. Without getting a say in anything, I had to work with Christian from now onwards, I had to go to Alex's wedding of course but I would either have to tell my parents the truth or... 

No, that's not an option. 

But what Audrey said earlier this morning was true, I couldn't risk everybody at the wedding finding out that my engagement was broken. It would be an embarrassment not just for me, but even Alex and my parents. It would completely ruin his wedding and it would become the only thing everybody spoke about. It simply wasn't an option. If anybody there found out what happened, it would be a huge disaster and my family would be extremely upset with me. I couldn't let that happen, there wasn't even a slight chance I would let my actions ruin such an important day for my brother. 

My phone rang in my purse and I pulled it out, putting it to my ear, reading Audrey's name on my screen. "Hey," I exhaled. 

"I thought you'd just gotten to work, why are you already sighing?" 

"Because your brother exists." 

"I called because I have an idea about your little predicament. I think it could help but I don't know if you'd be willing to try it out. I still have to tell you though." 

"All right then, spit it out. What is it?" 

She paused and cleared her throat, the hesitation and wariness were evident in her voice and reluctance. She seemed nervous to simply give this suggestion and I had a feeling it was exactly what I didn't want to hear. 

Whatever she's about to suggest, I already know I'll hate it. 

"Take Christian," she finally said. 

"What?" I asked, chuckling dryly, despite predicting that idea. 

"Just take Christian. Do what you have to do, form an understanding with him and just take him to the wedding. Consider it a favor and I know, okay, I know you'd rather die than ask Christian out of all people for a favor, but just trust me. I'm your friend, Jules, I wouldn't give you this idea if I didn't think it could work out. And I also know he's responsible for all your misery but... maybe you can try it?" 

On cue with perfect timing, my door opened and Christian waltzed in. "Get off the phone and get to work. I've emailed you all the agents and phone numbers to call. Get working, Ms. Declan. And stop talking to Audrey during office hours." 

I glared at him as he wordlessly left, closing the door behind him. 

No matter how much I hated admitting it, Christian was great at separating his work life from anything personal, but that didn't necessarily mean he could separate his past from his present. When it came to us, clearly, we both were failing at that. 

But... could this ridiculous idea miraculously work? 

"I'll think about it, Audrey. But you heard the jackass, I have to get to work." 

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Chapter 9

It's still pretty early tonight so I might update once more a little later

also, thank you for all the birthday wishes <3333 

next ch: proposal

it's giving the Spanish love deception lol